Last updated 12:10, Monday, 03 November 2008

Gillford Park 2 Cramlington Town 2: Former Annan Athletic schemer Ian Grainger had to settle for a place on the bench for Gillford Park following the receipt of his International Clearance Certificate from the Scottish FA and the home side’s unbeaten record was given a stern test against a Cramlington Town side that were fresh from their away win at Peterlee Town.

In the early stages the visitors knocked Gillford out of their stride with some outstanding work from Tom North in midfield and defender Kevin Ord before the home side took the lead in the 19th minute at a point when they had been reduce to 10-men when Ally Lang had to leave the field for treatment. Mike Riding found some space on the edge of the area to lob visiting keeper David Hanson for the opening goal.

Before the break shots by Riding, Ian Johnstone, Kyle Armstrong and Chris Grainger were all repelled by the visiting defence and leave Gillford Park with their single goal lead at the interval.

Within two minutes of the restart the scores were level. Kevin Ord started the move that ended with a penalty award after Paul Huck had been dragged down in the area, Steve Elsey converted the spot kick.

It took another 20-minute passage of play before Gillford Park regained the lead when Steve Skinner gave young striker Mike Riding the chance for his second goal of the game, and Mark Armstrong was denied a third goal in the 75th minute with a fine save from Hanson.

That save from Hanson proved important because within 3-minutes Cramlington came back to tie the scores again when Ian Downie broke through to fire the ball off two home defenders and when the loose ball was converted by Kieran Parsons, both sides eventually had to settle for a share of the points.

CUMBERLAND FA SENIOR CUP ROUND TWO
Harraby Catholic Club 6 Alston Moor Sports Club 0

HARRABY entertained a young Alston team who were unbeaten in the 'Westmoreland League' this season in the second round of the Cumberland FA Senior Cup and the home side began strongly in their first game for a month with Lee Otway seeing Alston keeper Adam Newby block his volley from the edge of the area in the 2nd minute.

The early pressure told and within a minute, Aaron Roger’s cross was headed towards goal by James Earl and when the effort was parried by the keeper, Rob Bainbridge reacted first to hit the loose ball home from close range.

Harraby then saw a James Earl header ruled out for pushing before Alston’s Jake Shepherd slotted home only to be ruled offside.

Bainbridge doubled his tally in the 12th minute when Otway headed on for him to run clear and shoot across the keeper from within the area.

Bainbridge then had a profitable outcome from the visiting keeper’s poor goal kick in the 21st minute when his strike partner Otway again headed the ball forward to allow Bainbridge to place his 18-yard shot past Newby and complete his hat-trick.

The home side continued to dominate the play and create chances at will before Dave Wallace swept home a close range effort in the 39th minute to give Harraby a four-goal lead at the break.

The pattern of play continued after the re-start with the visitors always on the back-foot against the constant offensive play from the home side when Bainbridge had a header saved and Earl hitting the woodwork before Otway extended the lead on the hour mark with a close range effort.

Defender Jordan Coulthard and Earl combined in the 77th minute to present Otway with his second of the match to complete the scoring.

Tthe comfortable win gives Harraby another home tie in the next round at the end of the month against either Netherhall or Keswick.